Stoke's Unsung Heroes #4: Ian Parker

Mouth painter Ian Parker has inspired children across the city with his workshops. He's also illustrated a children's book and appeared on Songs of Praise…

Ian shows off his skills at a workshop at Oakhill Primary School

• Where do you live and why do you love it?
  I’m not a native Stokie, I came here from Crawley in West Sussex to study Fine Art at the Poly (now University of Staffordshire) in 1990 where I also met my wife. We settled here and now live in Blurton. I love the contrast between the industrial side of Stoke and its many green spaces. We’ve been members of Park Church in Shelton since the early 90’s, which has a great heart for the local community.
  

• Tell us how you got into mouth painting and what are some of the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

  I have a disability called arthrogryposis multiplex, which means that I can’t stand or use my hands. At school I learnt to write and draw holding a pen or pencil in my mouth, but while I always enjoyed drawing, it was much harder to learn to paint well. I now work full time for Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, the global disability art co-operative, producing Christmas card designs and so on. As I get older, the main difficulty is needing to adapt my positioning to paint. My disability is in my joints and with limited movement already, loosening up isn’t easy!
  

• What are your proudest moments since you started painting?

  The first is when I had my first Christmas card design printed, which was a robin in a snow scene. Our main aim as MFPA artists is to create art that will make the grade for publishing. I won first prize in a sponsored MFPA exhibition with a portrait of a steam train – I love to paint trains and aircraft, despite the technical detail needed. Lastly I have to include the book that I illustrated, Danny’s Dream.

Ian at work on children’s book Danny’s Dream, which was released in 2020.

• Sounds great. Tell us about the book – and are there any more in the offing?
  Danny’s Dream was a first for both the author and myself, it took two-and-a-half years and a lot of hard graft and phone calls! It was intended to be published and promoted to coincide with the 2020 Paralympics [it’s about a boy in a wheelchair who ends up at the Olympics]. Unlike coming up with a variety of designs for Christmas cards, the book illustrations, particularly the characters’ appearance, had to be completely consistent, which was a constant challenge!
  
  We haven’t got another one planned for MFPA, but I’ve been talking with one of my daughters about developing a story involving the women who were ferry pilots for the RAF during WW2.

• You were also a guest on Songs of Praise. Tell us about that experience

  It was great to combine two very important things in my life in an interview, my Christian faith and my artistic work. I was nervous when it came to filming, particularly as we were filming outside in the garden due to Covid! But it went really well – the interview was more of a long conversation, and it was very easy to talk about everything that they asked about.

Ian paints in his garden as a cameraman films him for Songs of Praise

• Who is your favourite local artist and why?

  Rob Pointon – he’s a brilliant painter, and I admire the way he never chooses the easy option on subjects’ location, composition and the weather.
  

• What do you like to do in Stoke when you’re not painting?

  I really enjoy visits to Trentham Gardens, it’s great living so close to them, and Gladstone Pottery Museum is another favourite. I’ve also enjoyed many visits to the New Vic Theatre and Claybody Theatre, and concerts at the Victoria Hall over the years. Our kids grew up in Hanley Library and the Potteries Museum!

In residence at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery back in 2006

• What do you like to paint the most?
  For work I mainly paint landscapes and Christmas scenes, but I’ve painted a number of WW2 aircraft over the years, including several Spitfires.

• What's next for you – are you still enjoying painting?
  I’m still enjoying painting as much as ever. I’m currently working on a painting of Bellerophon in the snow, one of the locomotives at Foxfield Railway. I have my next five planned out too – hopefully some silk painting, and a watercolour too in among my usual acrylics. I’m also still doing workshops on Zoom, so if anyone would like to book one, they can get in touch through my website.

Do you want to nominate someone for The Knot’s ‘Stoke’s Unsung Heroes’ column? We’d love to hear from you! Email james@theknot.group with your suggestions